March 18, 2026
Philadelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid (oblique) has picked up a doubtful tag on the injury report ahead of Thursday's encounter with the Sacramento Kings. While the former MVP is expected to miss an 11th straight contest, this is a positive development. Previously, the team would immediately rule Embiid out on its injury report. The veteran star is working his way back from a right oblique strain.
Adem Bona and
Andre Drummond will continue to see extra playing time until Embiid is ready to return. Drummond has been the better fantasy option lately, despite coming off the bench.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver
Tre Tucker faces new competition in his position group this offseason after the team signed
Jalen Nailor to a $35 million deal. Plus, familiar faces
Jack Bech,
Brock Bowers, and
Michael Mayer remain in the mix as pass-catching threats. It may seem like a somewhat crowded receiver room for Tucker, who has yet to establish himself as a real fantasy threat week in and week out. However, there are still reasons for dynasty managers to be optimistic. First of all, Tucker is trending up after finishing as the overall WR38 in PPR leagues last year. That number was a bit skewed by some extreme outlier games, but it's still encouraging to see that he can deliver meaningful fantasy outputs to managers. Additionally, the Raiders are expected to upgrade at quarterback with projected No. 1 pick
Fernando Mendoza. He's a clear improvement over
Geno Smith, and his strong passing skills should be able to support fantasy-relevant production from several receivers often, and not just one receiver here and there. Tucker is definitely still going to have to earn the right to catch more passes in this offense, but he and the Raiders as a whole are trending up.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 18, 2026
Washington Wizards guard
Trae Young (quad) will miss his second straight game Thursday against the Pistons and may also be at risk of missing more time with a back-to-back coming up.
Bub Carrington should continue to start after dropping 30 points with six three-pointers, four rebounds, and two assists in 38 minutes last game, putting him firmly on the fantasy playoff streaming radar for points and threes.
Jaden Hardy added 16 points with four triples, two steals, and one block in 32 minutes and remains a viable deep-league scoring option while Young is out.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
The New York Yankees announced on Wednesday that left-hander
Max Fried will take the hill for Opening Day next Wednesday on the road against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Fried is the easy choice for the Yankees to kick off the 2026 season with both
Gerrit Cole (elbow) and
Carlos Rodon (elbow) rehabbing elbow injuries. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw was excellent in his first year in the Bronx in 2025, earning his third career All-Star selection while leading the league in wins (19). Fried also had a 2.86 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 189:51 K:BB in 195 1/3 innings over his 32 starts during the regular season. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder is the ace of the Yankees' staff and should be treated as a low-end No. 1 fantasy starting pitcher going into his second season in pinstripes. It was only Fried's third time in nine MLB seasons that he reached 30 starts, and he has still never gone over 200 innings or 200 strikeouts. Fantasy managers should be starting him with confidence next week.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Yankees
March 18, 2026
Miami Heat forward/center
Bam Adebayo (calf) is listed as probable for Thursday's game against the Lakers after sitting out Tuesday due to calf tightness. The veteran big man has been dominant recently, averaging 34.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.6 three-pointers, 1.8 steals, and 1.2 blocks in 37.6 minutes over his last five games. He should remain locked into fantasy lineups during the playoffs.
Kel'el Ware could see fewer frontcourt opportunities with Adebayo likely back, while
Tyler Herro and
Norman Powell should still see their normal touches on offense.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Memphis Grizzlies guards
Jahmai Mashack (ankle) and
Rayan Rupert (inactive) won't take the court on Wednesday against the Denver Nuggets. Mashack has been ruled out for the contest due to a left ankle sprain, while Rupert was assigned to the G League. Rupert logged 27 minutes as a starter in Monday's loss to Chicago, and Mashack played an active role off the bench, finishing with 26 minutes of action.
Ty Jerome and
Javon Small will replace the two in the rotation, with the former poised to start instead of Rupert.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver
Jack Bech will have to compete with some new faces in his position group next season. The Raiders invested more than $35 million into wide receiver
Jalen Nailor, giving Vegas another top target to join Bech and
Tre Tucker. Tight ends
Brock Bowers and
Michael Mayer will fetch plenty of targets next year, too. All in all, it's a somewhat crowded receiver room for someone like Bech, who has yet to establish himself as a consistent pass-catching threat week in and week out. Nevertheless, there are several reasons for dynasty managers to be optimistic. First of all, Bech is a glaring Year 2 breakout candidate after catching 12 passes from Week 13 through 16. He showed flashes of being able to handle a bigger role after the team traded away
Jakobi Meyers. Additionally, the TCU product will get a major quarterback upgrade if the Raiders draft
Fernando Mendoza, kicking off the post-
Geno Smith era. Barring a major wide receiver addition in free agency or the draft, it looks like Bech will be the No. 2 or 3 receiver in Vegas next year, giving him decent upside and the potential to be a WR3/flex in deeper fantasy leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 18, 2026
Brooklyn Nets forward/center
Noah Clowney (wrist) is out for the remainder of Wednesday's tilt against Oklahoma City, the team announced. Clowney sprained his right wrist and will call it a night after logging only eight minutes. He tallied three points and two rebounds. Clowney's return from a one-game absence bumped
Ziaire Williams to the bench on Wednesday, but he may enjoy a larger workload again without him. There will also be more opportunities for
Chaney Johnson,
Josh Minott, and
Jalen Wilson.
--Taavi PailkSource: Brooklyn Nets
March 18, 2026
Washington Wizards center
Alexandre Sarr (toe) is questionable for Thursday's game against the Pistons and could miss a third straight contest. If he sits, the Wizards will likely continue splitting the center minutes between
Anthony Gill and
Tristan Vukcevic, though both remain risky fantasy options given Washington's unpredictable rotations. Vukcevic posted nine points, four rebounds, one assist, and one block in 19 minutes last game, while Gill finished with two points, one rebound, one steal, and one block in 16 minutes. Both are risky fantasy plays in deeper leagues right now, with
Justin Champagnie another option if Washington goes small.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Detroit Pistons guard
Cade Cunningham (back) will sit out Thursday's game against the Wizards after exiting Tuesday's contest and missing practice Wednesday. His absence should open another starting opportunity for
Daniss Jenkins, who posted 11 points, one rebound, nine assists, and two steals in 36 minutes in his last start on March 7. Jenkins offers short-term streaming appeal for assists during the fantasy playoffs, while
Jalen Duren and
Tobias Harris should see more scoring chances with Cunningham out. Cunningham managers should monitor his status closely with another game scheduled Friday.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Dallas Mavericks point guard
Brandon Williams (concussion) won't play on Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks, as the team has downgraded him from doubtful to out. Williams is in concussion protocol after being hurt during Monday's loss to New Orleans. The 26-year-old has been Dallas' most productive reserve this season, averaging 12.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 22.0 minutes per game. With Williams sidelined,
Ryan Nembhard and
AJ Johnson are in a position to get more work in the backcourt.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
The Arizona Diamondbacks will not announce an official closer to begin the 2026 regular season, according to Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports. "You'll probably figure it out as I'm doing it," manager Torey Lovullo said on Wednesday when asked about the team's closing role.
Justin Martinez (elbow) and
A.J. Puk (elbow) will both begin the season on the injured list, so the D-backs will most likely go with a closer-by-committee situation to begin the 2026 season. Martinez had Tommy John surgery last June and probably won't be available in Arizona until the second half of the year. Puk is also rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and probably won't be ready to make his debut until right around the All-Star break. Because of his experience alone, veteran
Paul Sewald (86 career saves) might be the favorite for save chances early on, but
Taylor Clarke and
Ryan Thompson could also get opportunities. It's not an ideal situation to be chasing in fantasy unless you're desperate for saves in deeper leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Sports - Alex Weiner
March 18, 2026
Dallas Mavericks forward
Caleb Martin (foot) has been downgraded from questionable to out on the injury report ahead of Wednesday's meeting with the Atlanta Hawks. He will sit out a second straight game due to a sore right foot. Martin's absence will leave around 15 minutes to be filled in the rotation. Veterans
Khris Middleton and
Klay Thompson might be more involved in the action on Wednesday, but they haven't produced consistent fantasy value this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Sacramento Kings center
Drew Eubanks (thumb) underwent surgery to repair a torn UCL in his left thumb Wednesday and will miss the rest of the season. His absence should keep
Maxime Raynaud locked into heavy minutes after the rookie posted 32 points, two three-pointers, nine rebounds, three assists, and one block in 42 minutes last game.
Dylan Cardwell could also see a larger role after finishing with seven points, eight rebounds, and two assists in 18 minutes. Raynaud remains a strong fantasy playoff target, while Cardwell is more of a deep-league option as he continues ramping up after missing multiple games.
--Brian DailisanSource: Sean Cunningham
March 18, 2026
Los Angeles Clippers forward
Nicolas Batum (rest) will be inactive against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. With
Kawhi Leonard (ankle) returning to the lineup, the Clippers will take the opportunity to rest Batum. The French veteran averages about 12 minutes a night, and the team shouldn't have any trouble managing without him. We will likely see Batum back in the lineup on Thursday when the Clippers and Pelicans meet again at the Smoothie King Center.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
New Orleans Pelicans point guard
Dejounte Murray (illness) will return to action on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers. He was out for the first game of the week due to illness on Monday night versus Dallas. Murray has steadily gained momentum since making his season debut in late February and has looked very impressive in his most recent two appearances, averaging 31.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.5 steals. He posted these numbers in games against Houston and Toronto, both of which rank in the top 10 in defensive efficiency. The Clippers are at 19th, making Wednesday's game an even better matchup for Murray.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Chicago Bulls guard
Collin Sexton (lower leg) will play Wednesday against the Raptors after missing four games and should reclaim a key scoring role off the bench. He erupted for 28 points with seven three-pointers, two rebounds, and three assists in 22 minutes in his last appearance and could provide a late-season scoring boost for fantasy managers. His return may cut into
Rob Dillingham's minutes and cap
Tre Jones' usage. Sexton is mainly a points and threes streamer for fantasy playoffs and offers less value when the scoring dips.
--Brian DailisanSource: K.C. Johnson
March 18, 2026
Toronto Raptors forward/center
Collin Murray-Boyles (thumb) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Bulls, marking his ninth straight absence due to a left thumb sprain.
Jakob Poeltl should continue handling heavy frontcourt minutes after posting 21 points, 18 rebounds, five assists, and one block in 37 minutes last game, making him a strong fantasy play during the playoffs.
Sandro Mamukelashvili also remains a deep-league option after finishing with eight points, one three-pointer, five rebounds, and two steals.
--Brian DailisanSource: Michael Grange
March 18, 2026
Despite the Philadelphia Eagles' struggles on offense in 2025, quarterback
Jalen Hurts was still a top-12 fantasy signal-caller with 3,224 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 16 regular-season games. The 27-year-old former second-round pick in 2020 was also named to his third career Pro Bowl. However, Hurts ran the ball 105 times, his second-fewest attempts in six seasons since his first year in the league, for 429 yards and eight touchdowns. Hurts had at least 10 rushing touchdowns in each of the previous four seasons. Philly's offense was out of sync often, which led to the dismissal of offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo after just one season. Hurts and receiver
A.J. Brown seemed to have a disconnect, which could lead to Brown being traded this offseason. That certainly wouldn't help Hurts' fantasy value, but with a boost in rushing opportunities, he could vault back into the high-end tier of QB1s in 2026. Hurts has a high fantasy floor because of his rushing ability, as his eight rushing scores in 2025 ranked fourth among all QBs.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
March 18, 2026
Atlanta Hawks forward
Jonathan Kuminga (knee) will be active against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night. The team has upgraded Kuminga's status from questionable to available. Late last month, Kuminga had a promising start to life in Atlanta, but he's recently been dealing with a knee issue that seems to have impacted his performance. Over his last two outings, Kuminga has shot below 20 percent from the field, scoring nine points. Overall, Kuminga has averaged 14.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 23.6 minutes per game in five appearances for the Hawks.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Dallas Mavericks center
Daniel Gafford (illness) is available for Wednesday's game against the Hawks after missing three games and should reclaim his usual role in the starting lineup. He posted 22 points, 14 rebounds, one assist, and one block in 27 minutes in his last appearance and provides efficient scoring and rebounding when active. His return likely cuts into
Marvin Bagley III's minutes, pushing him back to deep-league status. Gafford shapes up as a strong fantasy option for managers needing rebounds and field-goal percentage, while
P.J. Washington could see fewer small-ball center minutes.
--Brian DailisanSource: Lauren L. Williams
March 18, 2026
Portland Trail Blazers center
Robert Williams III (knee) will play on Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers. As usual, the injury-prone big man sat out the second leg of a back-to-back on Monday when Portland visited Brooklyn. He will rejoin the lineup on Wednesday after initially being listed as questionable for the game. Williams III will continue to serve as
Donovan Clingan's backup at center. He has averaged 10.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game in five outings this month.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Indiana Pacers guard/forward
Aaron Nesmith (ankle) will play in the second game of a back-to-back on Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers. He was initially listed as questionable after a 24-minute outing in Tuesday's loss to the Knicks. On Tuesday night, Nesmith notched 14 points with 4-for-6 shooting from three-point range but didn't contribute much else. He will look to make a bigger impact in a more favorable matchup on Wednesday.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Cleveland Browns wide receiver
Isaiah Bond should be a top-three wideout for the team as he heads into his second year in the NFL, behind
Jerry Jeudy and
Cedric Tillman. The 22-year-old pass-catcher from the University of Texas averaged a healthy 18.8 yards per catch in his first 16 NFL games (two starts) in 2025, although he finished with only 18 catches for 338 yards on 44 targets. Bond displayed his big-play abilities, primarily late in the year after fellow rookie
Shedeur Sanders was named the starter under center. He has some intriguing long-term fantasy upside because of his big-play ability, but he'll probably go undrafted in 12-team fantasy leagues this fall as the Browns continue to rebuild their offense, which finished 2025 with the second-fewest points per game (16.4), ahead of only the Las Vegas Raiders. Bond averaged just 1.1 catches per game last year, so that number will need to come up for fantasy managers in shallow redraft leagues to consider him off the waiver wire in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
March 18, 2026
Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center
Chet Holmgren (hip) is available for Wednesday's game against the Nets after dealing with a left hip contusion and should handle his usual workload if the game stays competitive. The All-Star big man has averaged 19.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.6 three-pointers, 1.4 assists, and 0.8 blocks in 30.4 minutes over his last five games while shooting 56.1 percent from the field and 81.3 percent from the line. With
Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) sidelined, Holmgren should stay locked into lineups during the fantasy playoffs
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Indiana Pacers guard
Andrew Nembhard (calf) has been ruled out for Wednesday's contest against the Portland Trail Blazers. He will miss a third consecutive game due to a right calf contusion. Meanwhile,
T.J. McConnell (hamstring) has been cleared to play and will make another start at point guard. McConnell produced a 10-point, 10-assist double-double in 20 minutes on Tuesday against the Knicks. However, he could have a lighter workload on Wednesday due to the back-to-back situation, making him a risky fantasy option. With Nembhard out,
Quenton Jackson and
Kam Jones will also get more work in the backcourt.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Terry McLaurin had his fifth straight 1,000-yard receiving season in 2024 and made his second career Pro Bowl before signing a three-year, $96 million contract with the team last August. The 30-year-old veteran then proceeded to play in a career-low 10 games due to injury, finishing with just 38 receptions, 582 yards, and three touchdowns in his seventh year in the league. His fantasy managers surely weren't happy with the outcome, but he will have a chance to bounce back as a WR2 if he's healthy. Scary Terry should be the unquestioned WR1 in Washington, and with better health for both him and quarterback
Jayden Daniels, another 1,000-yard season is certainly possible. McLaurin has relied on big plays over heavy volume, as he's averaged only 4.7 catches per game in the NFL. It makes him more of a boom/bust WR2 target, especially coming off an injury-plagued season. The good news is that new offensive coordinator
David Blough seems intent on getting McLaurin more looks in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
March 18, 2026
Los Angeles Clippers point guard
Darius Garland (toe) will suit up for Wednesday's contest against the New Orleans Pelicans. He was listed as questionable on the initial injury report before being cleared to play. Garland will probably be back on the injury report on Thursday when the Clippers complete a back-to-back set with another home game against New Orleans. On Wednesday night, Garland will aim to post a second consecutive double-double in a favorable matchup. He finished Monday's loss to San Antonio with 25 points, two rebounds, 10 assists, and two steals.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Indiana Pacers center
Ivica Zubac (back) is available for Wednesday's game against the Trail Blazers and is set to appear in his fifth consecutive contest despite regularly landing on the injury report. He logged 11 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks in 27 minutes in his last game and is averaging 10.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.8 blocks in 23.8 minutes with Indiana. His return limits
Jay Huff's upside to deep-league formats. Zubac should remain a useful option for managers targeting rebounds and field-goal percentage as long as he stays active.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Los Angeles Clippers forward
Kawhi Leonard (ankle) will rejoin the fun on Wednesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans. He was in danger of missing a second straight game due to an ankle sprain, but the team has upgraded Leonard's status from questionable to available. Leonard has been special in recent weeks, averaging 29.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.6 steals since the All-Star break. He should fill the box score with ease in a pace-up spot against a defensively-challenged team.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
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